Hicks faces Kimmel in East Marlborough race

At the Oct. 5 meeting of the East
Marlborough Board of Supervisors, Christine Kimmel sat with the
board, listening closely and getting a closeup of how the members
interact.

Kimmel, a Republican, topped former
supervisor Richard Hicks in the May primary, and both are seeking to
fill a vacancy left by current board president Cuyler Walker, who has
decided not to pursue re-election. Hicks is running as a Democrat.

Christine Kimmel

Kimmel has worked closely with current
supervisor John Sarro, who supported her campaign, and who sat next
to her at the Oct. 5 meeting. Kimmel is the Republican party’s
endorsed candidate for supervisor. She was a longtime member of the
township's Planning Commission.

She has lived in East Marlborough
Township and worked in Chester County for the past 18 years. She is
an attorney with the West Chester law firm of Buckley, Brion, McGuire
& Morris LLP. She has served as a member of the Unionville
Regional Planning Commission, the Longwood Cooperative Planning
Project, the Kennett Area Regional Planning Commission, and the
Unionville Park Planning Commission.

“I have served on the Township
Planning Commission for 12 years,” Kimmel said in an interview in
May. “During that time, I have worked closely with the Board of
Supervisors on many issues. As a zoning and land use attorney, I have
appeared before many municipalities across Pennsylvania and I’ve
seen how effective a well run township can be in improving the lives
of its residents. I want to bring that experience to East
Marlborough. I think the township is a wonderful place to live and
raise a family, and I would like to serve the township in a greater
capacity.”

Kimmel's position on the Planning
Commission will be filled seamlessly, she said.

“Two members of the Planning
Commission – Pat Montague and MaryNell Ferry -- have been serving
as long or longer than me and will maintain continuity,” Kimmel
said. “With their guidance and with the fresh perspectives offered
by Charles Streitweiser and our newest member, Jane Donze, the
Planning Commission will continue to give excellent input on
development and planning issues.”

Kimmel said she has knowledge and
skills that will help her in her position on the board.

“As a zoning, land use and municipal
lawyer for almost 20 years, I understand the challenges faced by
local governments, and how to balance competing interests,” she
said. “Having served on state, regional and local boards, I
understand the necessity of collaboration to solve problems. As a
business lawyer, I know the importance of listening to, and working
with, the business community to stimulate economic growth. As a
partner in a law firm, I understand what it takes to make a payroll,
pay the bills and stay within budget.

“The primary challenge facing East
Marlborough, and most other townships, is how to provide essential
services efficiently while keeping taxes low,” she said. “To do
this requires leaders who are keenly sensitive to public needs and
open to creative solutions. As I have been out visiting residents,
many of them have expressed concerns about smart growth in the
township. My background is particularly suited to address this. Other
issues include funding emergency services and supporting the school
district in maintaining excellence and keeping children safe.”

–

Hicks, an East Marlborough supervisor
for 12 years, said that among his concerns is “in regard to
development in the area that is going unattended by the majority of
our current Board of Supervisors. This proposed development will have
a major impact not only on our area roads that already suffer
disrepair, but on the infrastructure that would support it.

“There are continued plans in place
to develop Kennett Borough and adjoining municipalities. Has anyone
thought to ask how this will impact East Marlborough Township?”
Hicks asked. “Where will the traffic go? The obvious answer is
through the adjoining developments, or to continue through our
country roads. These roads were not meant to carry the amount of
traffic that will be generated from these developments, combined with
pending development in East Marlborough Township. Another matter is
the Old Fire Hall in Unionville, which the township recently
purchased. Nothing has been done with this building, which could be a
viable asset to the township if put to good use. And remember the
bike path? What happened to that, and what was the final cost to the
taxpayers?”

Hicks said, “I have been a resident
of Chester County all of my life, living in East Marlborough for the
last 50 years, and before that in West Marlborough Township. My
family is firmly rooted in the area, and has been for more than a
century, predominantly in the farming/agricultural industry. I
believe strongly in the concept of preservation and the necessity of
making responsible decisions. I was instilled with a strong sense of
community involvement, and subsequently have been an active volunteer
firefighter for the Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company since 1970.

“I am well versed in codes regarding
building, zoning, and municipal requirements. I have been employed as
a Municipal Building Codes Official and Zoning Officer for over 20
years, and previous to that I managed my own contractor business. I
believe my experience has provided me with a well-rounded basis for
understanding what and how possible development may impact our
taxpayers.

“I am in favor of development, as
long as it is responsible development,” Hicks continued.

In September postings on his campaign
website (www.democracy.com/RichHicks), Hicks wrote, “Open and
transparent government is the best tool against corruption in
government. I will work to make sure that our township promotes a
culture of transparency in all that we do and utilize new
technologies so that our decisions, our actions will be effective and
our elected officials will be held accountable. That what every
resident should expect and that what every resident deserves.

“Local government must use a
long-range vision for local projects, while making sure that every
dollar that is spent is necessary and accountable to the taxpayer,”
Hicks added. “Partnering with our neighboring municipalities is key
to building a stronger community and will allow us to share resources
and reduce costs. I understand the importance of working with our
neighbors because I served as President of the Chester County
Association of Township Supervisors. I saw firsthand the value in
working with our neighbors to improve everyone's community.”